Za'Darius Smith Is Suddenly A Free Agent, And Someone's Getting A Pro Bowl Rusher For Pennies

Holy smokes, NFL fans! Get ready, because a three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher is back on the market, and this one feels wild. Za'Darius Smith, who we all thought had abruptly hung up his cleats, just got released from the reserve/retired list by the Philadelphia Eagles. Yeah, you read that right. The Eagles parted ways with him earlier this month, as PennLive's Johnny McGonical put it, freeing him up to sign with any team. This dude retired, then un-retired, and now he's a free agent. Talk about a plot twist heading into the thick of the season!

The Sacks Piled Up, Then They Just... Stopped

Let's be real, Za'Darius Smith's resume is seriously impressive. We're talking 145 games played, 98 starts, a whopping 70.5 sacks, 87 tackles for loss, and 176 quarterback hits. Plus, 16 passes defensed and 10 forced fumbles. The man was a beast. He was particularly dominant during his time with Green Bay and Minnesota from 2019 to 2022, racking up 36 sacks in just three full seasons. His 2022 stint with the Vikings was lights out, pulling in 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 24 QB hits, and 10 sacks, even getting consideration for Comeback Player of the Year! But then, 2023 hit. With the Eagles, he only managed 1.5 sacks in five games. That's a huge drop-off. The big question, of course, is his age; Smith is 33. Can he still bring that heat? The good news is, Pro Football Focus still gave him a favorable pass rush grade of 77.7, which tells you he wasn't exactly loafing out there. Maybe he's

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a situational guy now, but a 77.7 pass rush grade for a "situational guy" is something you don't just ignore.

Why the Vikings Could Be the Perfect Match (Again)

So, where does a guy like this land? Well, some Vikings fans are already screaming for a reunion. And honestly, it makes a ton of sense. Minnesota might have a hole at the OLB3 spot, with young guns like Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss still needing to mature. They could also look at Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins at EDGE or rookie Jake Golday in a hybrid role. But Smith? He's proven. He knows their coaching staff, including Kevin O'Connell, from his 2022 Pro Bowl year. Yeah, he curiously asked for a ticket out after one killer season, but you gotta figure there's still a positive vibe there. The Vikings also boast a Top 3 defense under Brian Flores. Adding Smith as an economical rotational rusher, supporting Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, could be a serious boost. What else is he going to do, right? NFL teams aren't exactly going to be knocking down his door with mega-deals at this point in his career. He's winding down, and joining an already elite defense seems like a smart play. The clock is ticking for Za'Darius Smith to find a new home. He's a free agent who just came off the "reserve/retired" list, carrying a ton of experience and a track record of Pro Bowl play, even if his last year was a bit muted. Every team looking for an affordable, high-impact veteran pass rusher should be on the phone. This isn't just a signing; it's a potential steal for a team ready to make a run. Who's gonna pull the trigger?

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.